On July 2, Reverend Vince To Kwan-yau of Institute of the Incarnate Word was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Hong Kong. It is really gratifying. He is a Hong Kong-Filipino was born and educated in the territory. He affirmed his vocation after years of nurture in theology and philosophy.
The Catholic Church came Hong Kong more than 180 years ago. In the early days, it relied on foreign missionaries to come to Hong Kong to care for the congregation. The first priest who came to live in Hong Kong was Spanish Franciscan Father Michael Navarro. When the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres arrived, they established the first convent. They took care of abandoned babies, the elderly and sick people.
On 1 November 1931, the South China General Seminary in Aberdeen officially opened. The seminary was under the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office [later the The Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, now known as the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]. The seminary was re-structured in 1964 and placed under the Diocese of Hong Kong and renamed the Holy Spirit Seminary and is dedicated to providing the formation of young men who are called to serve the diocese as priests.
The diocese has also produced a congregation of religious sisters: the Sisters of the Precious Blood., which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary on the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ [June 19]. The late Bishop Francis Hsu Chen-ping affectionately called the sisters “the eldest daughter of the diocese.” It shows that the diocese attaches great importance and love to them.
According to the information of the diocese, as of 31 August 2021, it has two cardinals, one bishop, one auxiliary bishop, 66 parish priests, and nine seminarians. There are also 220 priests and 17 seminarians from institutes.
Even with the diocese, congregations and institutes working together, serving the spiritual needs of more than 400,000 Catholics is still like the scripture: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few” [Matthew 9:37]. The Diocese Vocation Commission organized the Month of Vocation in May this year. Young people brought the image of the Mary, Mother of Vocations on a tour starting from the Holy Spirit Seminary and visiting Visitation Church, Rosary Church, and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. During the period the image was in a church, gatherings were organised to help young people explore and discover their vocation and encourage them to respond courageously.
Indeed, young people are integral to the Church. At present, with the Covid-19 pandemic fluctuating, the economy and people’s livelihood seems to be stagnant. This results in the polarisation of attitudes towards life, to enjoy the moment or lose interest in what is happening around them.
Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj, accepted an invitation from Boiling Point, the online platform for young people, and visited youth groups in different parishes, so that they might dialogue and understand.
Bishop Chow’s interaction and communication with young people will help to inculcate a sense of mission in young people, so they can walk in step with the Church. SE
